The SSTFI is having to make some serious decisions this year
due to the loss of sponsorship. Please note this is not due to the
sponsors thinking your students are not a worthy cause it is due to the
economic climate causing some sponsors to restrict or even to be unable to give
sponsorship dollars. This, in addition to the increase in exhibitor numbers,
is causing us to rethink certain areas of the fair.
To help with the monetary shortfall we will NOT be offering
a FREE luncheon for the Senior High students on Saturday. We will still
offer the luncheon as an option – but it will not be mandatory – students are
not required to eat the luncheon. We will keep the same pasta buffet that
we have offered in the past that includes a vegetarian option. Students
are allowed to take what they want and may have seconds if any remains.
However, we will now charge a small amount for the meal to help cover
costs. We will be asking $5.00/student ($7.00/adult) to help cover
the meal cost. (The actual cost of the meal is $13.50 per person).
If this is not acceptable for a school you are free to find other options for
your student(s). You may NOT bring outside food into Scheman or
Hilton. However, students may eat on the steps or lawn.
You do not need to register in advance to eat – students
will be able to pay anytime on Friday at the registration desk in Hilton
(preferably AFTER registration) or they can pay on Saturday in line.
Students will be given a ticket to use to enter the buffet line. Again,
the pasta meal includes a couple types of pasta, a couple types of sauce (one
or more vegetarian), a salad, bread sticks and a drink (tea or lemonade).
Teachers and adult sponsors are welcome to eat with their students for the
adult cost of $7.00. Our scholarship sponsors have been invited to the
luncheon and they will be eating with the students during this time as well
(they of course are our guests).
We will also not be providing the cookie break on Friday for
the Senior High. They will still have a break time but we will not be
providing refreshments. If enough of you think your students would like something
set out for a small snack (cookies and lemonade) we would have to charge a
small fee ($2/$3).
IF you have a significant number of students who will NOT
be attending the luncheon please let me know so I have a better idea of the
amount of food to order. It will not help our bottom line if suddenly
half of the students don’t eat but I still order the food.
I realize many of you already have budgets set for the event
and we are very sorry for this last minute notice. We wanted to wait on
some additional sponsorship requests. Please know we have been submitting
and reaching out to new sponsors but it takes time and lots of no’s sometimes
before finding a new supporter. We will not take anything away from the
awards that go to students and will do everything we can to keep the event free
of across the board registration costs. There are some things we may end
up cutting next year that were already ordered for this year. We looked
at what would affect the fewest students. Rather than cutting the entire
meal since it is such a tight time frame we want to continue to offer it just
at a small cost that would be similar to eating out at a fast food
establishment.
We ask for your understanding in this. It is our goal
to continue to strive to make the fair a positive and educational experience
for all students.
FOOD ALLERGIES:
IF you have students attending the luncheon who may have
food allergies or restrictions or need a gluten free meal please let me know
and we can have this ordered.
For more information regarding the SSTFI please visit our website at www.sciencefairofiowa.org
No comments:
Post a Comment